Cubs claim RHP Carlos Gutierrez off waivers from Minnesota

Gutierrez, 26, was originally selected by the Twins in the first round of the 2008 Draft and has gone 15-20 with a 4.11 ERA (154 ER/337.0 IP) in 136 appearances (32 starts) covering the last five seasons in the Twins minor league system.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound righthander went 2-2 with a 5.06 ERA (9 ER/16.0 IP) in 10 relief appearances last season with Triple-A Rochester, striking out 20 and walking only three batters in 16.0 innings pitched, before his season ended in mid-June due to a right shoulder injury that required surgery in July (he resumed throwing earlier this month). Gutierrez limited opponents to a .217 batting average, including a .156 mark by right-handed hitters.

Gutierrez made 43 relief appearances for Rochester in 2011, going 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA (32 ER/62.1 IP), his first full season pitching exclusively in relief. He was drafted by the Twins out of the University of Miami.

Recker was acquired by the Cubs from Baltimore on August 27. He batted .167 (3-for-18) with one home run and four RBI in nine games with Chicago.